Different Strokes

Starring:Dana Plato, Bentley Mitchum, Landon Hall, David Millbern, Gabriella Hall, Michelle Trongone, NoÃ«lle Balfour, Erica Gold, Samantha Janus, Jilda Trolio, Rick Abramson, Jon Jacobs (III), Mark Herko, Christa Herzog, Robert Santo, Susan Johnson (IV), Kathy Laine, Robert Bloome, Jim Sand, Jose Brambila
Director: Michael Paul Girard
Studio: Nutech Digital
Product Type: DVD

Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete First Season

Average customer rating:

Nostalgic blast from the past with a certain sadness
Good TV show passed down to my kids
GOOD FAMILY FUN
It Takes Diff'rent Strokes To Move The World!
Excellent Comedy

Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete First Season
Starring: Mary Jo Catlett , Danny Cooksey , Mary Ann Mobley , and Dixie Carter
Director: Leslie H. Martinson , Ellen Falcon , Dolores Ferraro , Lee Lochhead , and Selig Frank
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002JZT5U
Release Date: 2004-09-14

Amazon.com

More than just a ratings hit for NBC, the Norman Lear/Bud Yorkin-produced Diff'rent Strokes was a pop-culture phenomenon, thanks largely to the wise-beyond-his-years performance of star Gary Coleman. And while the show has languished of late in syndication in a heavily edited form, Columbia's first-season set amends that situation by packaging all 24 uncut episodes on a three-disc set with some interesting extras. Launched in November 1978 as a mid-season replacement for the failed Joe Namath series The Waverly Wonders, Diff'rent Strokes vaulted to no. 27 in the Nielsen ratings; audiences responded to the warmth and humorous culture clash between wealthy Philip Drummond (Lear vet Conrad Bain) and Arnold and Willis (Coleman and Todd Bridges), the sons of his late housekeeper whom he adopted. Though Bain, Bridges, Dana Plato (as Bain's daughter), and Charlotte Rae (as housekeeper Mrs. Garrett) all delivered solid performances, it was Coleman's charm, his timing, and most of all, his catch phrase "Whatchoo talkin' bout?" that drew in viewers.

The series was so successful that NBC used it to launch or boost two other shows: The Facts of Life, which sent Mrs. Garrett to run a girls' school (its pilot, "The Girls' School," is episode 24 on the third disc), and the McLean Stevenson program Hello, Larry, which followed Strokes on the network (the two-part cross-over episodes are featured on disc 3). Though perhaps best known to current audiences for the unfortunate luck suffered by several of its cast members after the show's cancellation in 1986, this first-season set offers a pleasant reminder of the show's charms. The set is rounded out by two featurettes featuring interviews with many of the show's stars and producers (though Coleman is notably absent), and commentaries by story editor Fred Rubin. --Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews:

Nostalgic blast from the past with a certain sadness.......2007-06-28

It's hard to judge a show like Diff'rent Strokes, since the show itself has fallen into footnote to the tabloid fiascos that became the lives of the three child stars. With that in mind, I tried to seperate myself from that and focus on the show qualities itself. And, it was alright.

Conrad Bain plays Phil Drummond, a wealthy man on Park Avenue in New York City who promised his long time housekeeper on her deathbed that he would adopt and care for her two children. And, true to his word, he adopts two black boys to live with him and his daughter. The show's producers said that sometimes if you tell a big enough lie the people will believe it. And, I would have to agree with this. They were getting hate mail from the Klu Klux Klan over this. And yet, this became a cultural phenomenon.

Why it became a cultural phenomenon is hard for me to see past the obvious cuteness of Gary Coleman and that "Whatchoo talkin' bout?" line. The show in the beginning was not that outrageous save for the fact there are two black children living with a white man as their father without a mother figure (save for Mrs. Garrett the housekeeper). Eventually the show would evolve into more semi sleazy topics (child porn, drugs, etc.); but, the only issue they dealt with in the very beginning was, obviously, racism. Some of it was a little too over the top - Arnold and Willis being harassed by superiors or authority figures before they realized that Mr. Drummond really was their adopted father, transistor radios and dancing to the beat, etc. Are we better people because of this? I don't know. Did we learn lessons from this show? Maybe a few. With that, it was an educational show that tried to appeal to the kiddie / tween set to engrain positive messages.

But, I can't get past the kids on the show and how their lives have fallen apart. Todd Bridges (Willis) succombed to drugs and a vareity of brushes with the law, even a murder charge. Gary Coleman (Arnold) sued his parents for their loss of his fortunes, lost his family, and had a few legal troubles as well. And Dana Plato. Just about anything and everything that could and would go wrong did. Teenage motherhood, drugs, armed robbery, porn movies, poverty, and eventually, her death. And, truth be told, while we often talk about the plight of a child star and how they tend to ruin their lives as adults, they were good actors. They were not great, however. They were good. They were not great, they were good. While some child actors have risen above the stigma of child star (Ron Howard, Jodie Foster, Brooke Shields, etc.), these three were examples of inertia who didn't expand into other fields and felt they were gyped by the establishment. Sorry, not buying it. They were some of the first Hollywood Brats Gone Bad. The greats will stay. They did not.

Good TV show passed down to my kids.......2007-03-13

i loved this show as a kid and now i get to see my kids mesmorized by the same show. it's important that my children see leading characters of different races and plan to purchase other shows like webster and the facts of life as well...

GOOD FAMILY FUN.......2007-01-06

Being born in Africa, I never had shows like this. When I came to America and was given the opportunity to grow see what life could be like living in America. Diff'rent Strokes was one of the shows that I loved to watch. The program was introduced to my children by one of there teachers and they could not stop talking about it. So, we had to order. My 8 year old reminds me of Arnold, always getting into something. We love it. Thanks for bring back good memories.

It Takes Diff'rent Strokes To Move The World! .......2006-11-27

I am 11-Year Old, and i am Going to Tell You Why i Love "Diff'rent Strokes". Diff'rent Strokes was The One of The Few hit sitcoms on NBC for Friday Nights, Parterning with: Facts Of Life and Hello, Larry. Diff'rent Strokes had starred The CBS Series "Maude" co-star, Conrad Bain, who played Wealthy Widow Philip Drummond, Dana Plato starred as his 14-Year Old Daughter, Kimberly, Charlotte Rae also starred as the No-Nonsense Housekeeper, Mrs. Edna Garrett (Charlotte Rae would have her very own sitcom, The Facts of Life, in The Fall of 1979, and aired on NBC until 1988), Todd Bridges also starred as Willis Jackson, and Well Known, Avenue Q, Star, Gary Coleman, played the Main Character, Arnold Jackson, also starring on the show was Family Matters's Weasel, Shavar Ross as Arnold's Best Friend, Dudley Johnson.

Diff'rent Strokes tackle many social issues over the United States, and came with VSE (Very Special Episodes) Including: Dudley getting Molested, Sam (Danny Cooksey) getting Kidnapped, The Family discovering Kimberly has Buliumia, and many more episodes. Diff'rent Strokes aired on NBC for Seven Seasons (1978-1985), and one season on The ABC Television Network (1985-1986), but Diff'rent Strokes cancelled in March 1986, after 19 Episodes were aired. The Kids/Family Sitcom was very Funny, and Hilarious and I Hope to see 1980-1981 season, which is Season #3 of The Show real soon!

Excellent Comedy.......2006-08-16

I find this show and especially this first season absolutely hilarious. The actors, in particular Gary Coleman produce terrific performances. I truly recommend this DVD to all whoever watched and liked the show

Average customer rating:

"A tender lesbian love story beautifully told"
Buy "Unrated" and not "R"
Cut TO pieces.
Cut TO pieces.
Different Strokes

Different Strokes
Starring: Dana Plato , Bentley Mitchum , Landon Hall , David Millbern , and Gabriella Hall
Director: Michael Paul Girard
Manufacturer: Nutech
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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Customer Reviews:

"A tender lesbian love story beautifully told".......2005-02-19

Do not discount this movie, nor write it off before actually seeing it. This is really a lesbian love story tenderly told. First of all, in order to get the most enjoyment from this movie you need to buy UNRATED. I followed the advice of other reviewers and bought this through the U.K web site, even though the movie was sent to me through an American company. Weird how it works that way. But I didn't want to risk getting a butchered version, so I bought U.K. I was charged 15 pounds (or is that Euros?), which translates into 28 American dollars. It is worth every cent I paid. I absolutely ADORE this movie. Jack (Bentley Mitchum) is a photographer involved in a steamy relationship with Jill (Landon Hall), but he seems to treat her "like a piece of meat". The other Jill (Dana Plato) is an art director who arrives from New York to work with Jack on a fashion catalog featuring beautiful models. Jack starts pressuring his girlfriend into going along with a menage a trois with the other Jill. But she keeps telling him "no". What he doesn't realize is that his girlfriend is fantasizing about Jill as much as Jill is fantasizing about her. While at a restaurant the two Jills perform a tango dance that is really adorable. Dana, it would seem, had quite a talent for dancing the lead in the tango. Their dance is one of the gems in this movie. But Jack is turned on by their dancing, and once again, pressures his girlfriend into going along with his plan. She gets upset and storms out of the restaurant. Jill follows her all the way home. What evolves between the two of them is very tender and affectionate. There is nothing dirty going on between them. It is love and tenderness that you see. Dana, apparently, was very comfortable playing the woman experienced in lesbian affairs. It shows on screen. But I was also impressed with Landon Hall. She plays her role effectively. When Jack finds out his girlfriend is "going AC/DC on him" he is predictably upset and not a little jealous. This story is told realistically. There are even some comedic scenes in this movie. It is tender, realistic, and at times, humorous. And yet...when you see Dana in this movie you can't help but feel a tremendous amount of compassion and sadness for her. One scene in particular makes me cry every time I see it. If you saw the E True Hollywood Story about her that aired in 1999 you know she was shocked when they decided to rate this movie "X". She really did not deserve the way some people treated her. And towards the end of the movie you notice the scars on her left wrist. So sad that her life had to end the way it did.

Buy "Unrated" and not "R".......2003-12-08

After reading the above review I decided to look over at the Amazon.uk site and found the "unrated" version of this movie. Plenty of steamy scenes and, though I never saw the VHS version, I don't think much was cut. I would have liked to have seen alot more raunch, down & dirty with Dana Plato but it wasn't like I came away disappointed. One just need be careful to buy "unrated" and since the US has many hang-ups in that area, one might need to buy certain titles from Amazon outside the US.

Cut TO pieces........2002-11-20

I had seen this Film previously, and enjoyed it. So When I bought it, I expected to see the film again. I did not. There are entire scenes missing. And I am bitterly dissapointed. If I had bought this in the UK, I would be protected by the trade descriptions act. As I bought it from the US site, I think I have been done out of my hard earned cash. Suffice to say, dont buy this film.... cause you want get what you paid for.

Cut TO pieces........2002-11-20

Different Strokes.......2001-06-08

This movie was spectacular because aside from being the best actress ever she is also the hottest woman ever. I recomend this for any Dana Plato fan.